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Editorial: Separating fact, fiction on wages for women

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This Aug. 1, 2013 file photo shows Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., flanked by Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin of Ill., left, and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., speaking on Capitol Hill in Washington. Senate Republicans derailed a Democratic bill last Wednesday curbing paycheck discrimination against women, an effort that even in defeat Democrats hoped would pay political dividends in this fall's congressional elections. Last Wednesday's vote was 53-44 to halt GOP tactics aimed at derailing the legislation, but that fell six short of the 60 Democrats needed to prevail. Mikulski stood up after the vote and said supporters were disappointed but that they would fight on. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)

Because the fact is, women are not paid a mere 77 cents on the dollar for doing the same work as men.

So why do we keep on hearing the number? The widely used talking point was based on a real statistic – which was distorted in an effort to rally those predisposed to believe it.

The figure was the result of one study that took a look at all full-time work – work performed by all people across all fields. Except that this number doesn't account for hours worked, for the type of work being performed, for experience. Instead of comparing apples and oranges, it compared a starting, 35-hour-per-week receptionist with an experienced engineer who was routinely burning the midnight oil. To take just one example.

In America, all people are created equal. But not all jobs.

And full time isn't full time. And experience matters. And different career paths result in different salaries. And time off for having children and sometimes staying at home for a bit can change the arc of a career.

Democrats have many legitimate gender-based workplace issues to talk about. Actual pay disparity. The need for more affordable childcare. Persistent workplace discrimination. Careers that still aren't broadly open to women.

They ought to focus on these very real matters. And while they do, they should feel free to leave their distorted, cherry-picked statistics behind.